U.S. patent number 6,560,335 [Application Number 09/774,260] was granted by the patent office on 2003-05-06 for sanitary phone cover.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Phone Guard, Inc.. Invention is credited to Allen Bonder, David Cowan, Joseph M. Herzog, Robert A. Marks, Jochen Schapers, Robert Zohn.
United States Patent |
6,560,335 |
Zohn , et al. |
May 6, 2003 |
Sanitary phone cover
Abstract
Disposable sanitary covers for the earpiece mouth piece and
handle of telephone handsets. The covers are designed to provide
universal fit to the earpiece or mouth piece, regardless of its
shape.
Inventors: |
Zohn; Robert (Scarsdale,
NY), Marks; Robert A. (Asharoken, NY), Herzog; Joseph
M. (Northport, NY), Cowan; David (Brooklyn, NY),
Schapers; Jochen (New York, NY), Bonder; Allen (Forest
Hills, NY) |
Assignee: |
Phone Guard, Inc. (Plainview,
NY)
|
Family
ID: |
25100715 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/774,260 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
379/452;
379/439 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M
1/17 (20130101); H04R 1/12 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04M
1/17 (20060101); H04R 1/12 (20060101); H04M
001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;379/452,439 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Chiang; Jack
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Weiss; Philip M. Weiss &
Weiss
Claims
We claim:
1. A sanitary cover for a telephone handset comprising: a template
of barrier material, comprising a continuous layer of porous
non-woven fabric; said material provided with flexible, resilient
portions, along the outer pleat at both sides of said template, to
form a stick shape.
2. The sanitary cover of claim 1 further comprising: ends of said
stick firmly secured with staples, plastic or heat welded.
3. The sanitary cover of claim 1 further comprising: a non-slip
coating placed on inside portions of said resilient portions.
4. The sanitary cover of claim 3 wherein said non-slip coating
comprises silicon or rubber.
5. The sanitary cover of claim 1 wherein said cover is made from
biodegradable sheet material.
6. A method for securing a sanitary cover to a telephone handset
comprising: pressing two ends of a sanitary cover stick toward each
other; expanding a flexible resilient portion to expand pleats;
disposing said cover about an end of an earpiece or mouthpiece;
releasing said pressure at said ends of said stick; closing and
securing said cover on said earpiece or mouthpiece.
7. A sanitary cover for a telephone handset comprising: continuous
strips joined to the edges of a continuous layer of porous,
bacteria proof, non-woven fabric by adhesive or heat sealing to
form a stick shape; said at strips constructed of a flexible and
resilient material.
8. The sanitary cover of claim 7 wherein said strips have a
resilient arch.
9. The sanitary cover of claim 7 wherein said strips are made of
card board or plastic.
10. A method of making a sanitary cover for a telephone handset
comprising: joining edges of continuous strips to edges of a
continuous layer of porous, bacteria proof nonvoven fabric; forming
a strip/fabric layer composite; folding said strip/fabric layer
composite a number of times; securing ends of said strip/fabric
layer composite to form a stick shape.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein said strips are joined to said
porous layer by heat sealing or an adhesive.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to sanitary covers that are secured
over the earpiece and/or mouthpiece of a telephone (or a doorknob)
to reduce the incidence of contamination and infection
therefrom
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The past 12 years has seen a dramatic increase in the incidence of
infectious disease. Infectious disease is now the third leading
cause of death in the United States. Just a few years ago it ranked
only fifth. One factor in this dramatic increase is an increase in
travel, and the resultant multiple use of telephones in public
phone booths, airports, train stations, and even hotel rooms. In
addition, the new global economy brings with it travel to and from
the "third world", where the traveler may not fully understand the
necessary sanitary practices. Both the increase in total travel
time, and trip distance, increase risk of infectious disease. Even
short trips are not free of risk, as personal hygiene practices
have been all but forgotten. But perhaps the greatest danger arises
from our complacency regarding disease: in this age of antibiotics.
In fact, the pervasiveness of antibiotics may have created new
dangers.
Wide spread use of antibiotics has resulted in new "killer"
bacteria. These bacteria have grown resistant to most or all of our
present antibiotics. This result is not unusual. All bacteria bred
in the presence of antibiotics select out resistance strains,
thereby increasing their resistance. Thus we find ourselves in a
continuous and accelerating search for newer antibiotics and
methods of protecting ourselves from the ever evolving bacteria
strains.
Even hospitalization carries increased risk of infection. Hospitals
are themselves the only source of certain new "killer" bacteria.
These bacteria were literally bred, and evolved, in hospitals.
Currently, two million (2,000,000) hospital patients per year
contract nosocomial infections: infections contracted in the
hospital, from the hospital.
Our schools are also a hot bed of infectious diseases, especially
the nurse's office. Thus, travel, as well as hospitalization, and
schooling, increase the risk of cross contamination; which greatly
increases the spread of illness. This situation requires another
approach to sepsis.
The eyes, ears, nose and mouth are common portals of entry for
infection into the body. Telephones are brought into intimate
proximity to these portals. Ever since the invention of the
telephone there have been concerns about the possible spread of
pathogens by multiple users of the phone. Investigations of these
concerns have confirmed contamination of telephones. For example,
on Jul. 2, 1999, an ABC News 20/20 Monday broadcast reported an
investigation of "environmental surfaces", such as pay phones,
restaurant salt & pepper shakers and napkin dispensers, shared
computer keyboards and bathroom doors. As reported, students from
Wagner College in Staten Island gathered microscopic samples from
environmental surfaces, cultured them onto agar plates, and
identified them. In interpreting the results, ABC News
correspondent Dr. Johnson stated, "Many of the germs found were not
dangerous, but in several places the telephone mouthpiece and
keypad, the computer terminal, the bathroom door and on paper money
they did find disease-producing forms of staph, which can cause
anything from food poisoning to acne to boils."
In another examples Dr. Wallace reported, in the Dec. 12, 1992
edition of the Orange County Register, in Section G, page 10, that,
" . . . colds are usually spread by simple hand-to-hand contact
with another human being or such objects as doorknobs and
telephones." With the increase in the number of phones, and the
increased mobility of vacationers, business travelers, commuters
and the workforce in general, phones have increasingly become
vectors for disease.
The vast majority of bacteria are in the size range of 1-10
microns. Many of them form chains, are in pairs, or form clumps.
They may be round or rod shaped. These bacteria can be easily
picked up from the environment, and may cause disease. Objects
exposed to droplets from coughing, oral secretions, nasal
discharges, earwax (cerumen) and pus can be contaminated, and hands
contaminated therefrom. Secretions can transfer bacteria to
telephones, eyes, mouths, and other objects.
Bacteria produce disease, and at times extensive disease, in normal
individuals. If there is any impairment to the immune system, or
another disease is present, they can produce disease more readily,
and more extensively. Diabetes mellitus, chronic lung disease,
chronic heart disease, such as congestive heart failure, are some
examples. Chronic skin conditions such as psoriasis, or any break
in the skin, can increase susceptibility to infection. Impairment
of the immune system caused by drugs, such as cortisone or
chemotherapy, can vastly increase the body's predisposition to
infections.
Staphylococcus is present in nasal passages, throat, sputum,
droplets and hands. It is capable of producing a great many
diseases or infections, including abscess, dermatitis, pneumonia,
septicemia, endocarditis, gastroenterological diseases and many
generalized diseases. It can be notoriously resistant to bacteria.
Staphylococcus was present in cultures taken of various phones (see
forward).
Bacillus can cause diarrheal disease, nausea and vomiting. It can
also cause abscesses, cellulitis, endocarditis and other severe
systemic disease. And, it can be transmitted from environmental
objects.
Enterococus and related bacteria such as citrobacter, tatumelia,
aerococcus, and enterobacter can all produce severe systemic
disease. They are ubiquitous in the environment. The diseases
produced by these bacteria range from gastroenterological diseases
to abscess to cellulitis to endocarditis.
Pseudomonas can infect any tissue. It is also found on
environmental surfaces, such as telephones and doorknobs, and can
be transmitted by hand contact as well as from the oral, nasal and
respiratory passages. This bacteria is the fourth (4th) most common
nosocomial, i.e., hospital acquired, infection. It accounts for 10%
of all such infections. These bacteria can produce pneumonia,
dermatitis, generalized septicemia, dermatitis, etc. They can be
spread by hand contact, sputum, and oral passages and from
environmental surfaces. Sadly, they are tolerant to a wide variety
of physical environments so they are very difficult to
eradicate.
Stenotrophomonas is a newly described bacteria. It is generally a
hospital-acquired infection. Quite serious outbreaks have developed
in hospitals. It has been responsible for causing respiratory
infections, wound infections and septicemia. This bacteria is
resistant to many antibiotics
Mycobacterium can cause severe disease. The most common is
tuberculosis. This group will produce pneumonia, abscess and
generalized diseases. They can be very difficult to treat,
requiring multiple antibiotics and frequently developing resistance
to these antibiotics.
In addition to bacteria, head lice and phone mites may be
transmitted by the use of a telephone. Not surprisingly, many
efforts have been undertaken to avoid both contamination and
cross-contamination from telephones. Disinfectant sprays and wipes
have been used, however, most bacteria easily survive a brief
exposure to disinfectants, and the broad use of disinfectants leads
to resistant strains of bacteria. In addition, use of disinfectants
pose the possibility of allergic reactions and if in fluid form,
may actually serve as a transport medium for bacteria.
Many attempts have been made to provide a physical barrier between
the user and the phone. These have involved the use of materials
which may provide an impervious barrier, and hence muffle sound or
distort voice transmission, or those that have perforations or are
wettable, and hence can transport the bacteria from the phone to
the mouth, and visa versa. Barriers are used to cover the mouth
piece, the earpiece, the earpiece and mouthpiece, and sometimes the
handle. When away from home, the hands are more easily washed than
the face or ears, hence covers for the earpiece have real
usefulness. Individually packaged towelettes, and liquid products
alleged to disinfect the hands without water, are readily
available. In addition, gloves may be used. Covers for the entire
earpiece and mouthpiece have also been attempted, but most are too
cumbersome for a traveler.
With all the various arrangements of shapes and materials in
telephone covers, the basic requirements of a sanitary cover still
remain unmet. To aid in asepsis it is advantageous that a cover be
disposable and biodegradable. A disposable cover needs to be
inexpensive, and easy to manufacture. The cover should be packaged
so that it retains its aseptic condition through much joggling in
the traveler's pocket or luggage pouch. In addition, it should be
possible to deploy a cover without contaminating it with dirty
hands, and without the hands touching the earpiece or mouthpiece.
Preferably, one should be able to deploy the cover using only one
hand. If the covers are presented in a multi-pack, opening the pack
and deploying one cover should not contaminate the remaining covers
in the pack. The covers are preferably sound permeable but fluid
impervious. Prior attempts at sanitary covers meet some of these
requirements, but failed to meet others. It is important at this
time to meet them all. Hence, there remains a great need for a
small, inexpensive, portable sanitary cover for the telephone.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The phone covers of the present invent ion are unique. They are
designed to prevent contamination, and cross-contamination, with
the use of a phone (or doorknob). The covers of the present
invention place a bacterial barrier material between the head, the
earpiece or mouthpiece. In a preferred embodiments the cover also
creates a bacterial barrier between the hands and the phone, as
well as the head and the phone. The bacterial barrier filter
material is preferably made of a non-woven fabric and, most
preferably, of a sheet of polypropylene, biodegradable material
having a filtration efficiency of 99% with an effective pore size
of one (1) micron. Since the majority of bacteria fall in the size
of 1-10 microns, this barrier will be extremely effective. It has
proven voice transmission characteristics, as it has been used in
face masks. In fact, no distortion of voice transmission takes
place from the use of the covers of the present invention. They
may, however, filter outs or deaden, background noises.
The covers are made in a variety of configurations, and each cover
of the invention may be easily used on phones of any shape. The
covers are easily applied with one hand, and come in convenient,
easy to carry, packages. The covers and cover packages may be
sterilized, and are designed such that their use is both aseptic
and discrete. Using the constructions of the covers of the present
invention, the earpiece and/or mouth niece covers may be
constructed from a piece or template of sheet material of any
shape. The template is provided with retaining means to permit use
of the covers on phones with any shape earpiece or mouth piece. For
instance, either a round or square template of material, may be
used to form a cover for an earpiece or mouth piece which is either
round or square, or any shape in between. It is preferred that the
covers be made of fluid resistant material.
The smallest and simplest covers are the single sheet covers,
which, adhesively attach to the working surface of the earpiece and
mouthpiece. For obvious reasons, these covers are inappropriate for
use on doorknobs. For the single sheet covers, the template needs
to be simply larger than the anticipated area of the top surface of
the earpiece or mouth piece, and any shape will do.
In one embodiment of the single sheet cover, adhesive is provided
only along a portion of the edge of the template. With this single
sheet cover it is preferred that the cover have some stiffness, so
that the adhesive and the stiffness combine to ensure the entire
sheet remains against the earpiece or mouth piece, i.e. that it
does not fold to expose a portion of the earpiece or mouth piece.
As this cover does not extend about, or contain, the earpiece or
headpiece, this cover may be constructed of material, such as
compressed paper or cardboard, which does not easily transmit
sound, as the sound will be easily transmitted around the edge of
the single sheet. The templates, or sheets, are stacked so that the
edge with the adhesive portion alternates from one side to the
opposite side of the stack, with each sheet. This stacking of the
covers provides two advantages. First, it permits easy dispensing
from the stack. Pressing the cover to the earpiece or mouthpiece
initiates an adhesive bond to the cover. As most pressure sensitive
adhesives have greater tack than peel adhesion, pulling the
earpiece or mouthpiece away from the stack at an angle, will easily
separate the top cover of the stack (attached to the handset) from
the next cover in the stack. Second, alternating adhesive positions
makes it especially easy to cover both ends of the hand set. As
will be rioted with reference to FIGS. 8 & 9 and their
accompanying description, these single sheet covers are most
preferably attached such that the adhesive portion of the cover is
placed at the upper end of the earpiece and the lower end of the
mouth piece. After attaching the first cover to one end of the
handset(the earpiece or the mouth piece) the alternating stack
places the adhesive portion of the second cover in position for
fastening to the other end of the handset, i.e. without having to
rotate the stack.
In another embodiment of the single sheet cover, adhesive is
provided in star-shaped pattern, which will engage any shape
earpiece or mouthpiece. In this embodiment, the material requires
no stiffness, arid, in fact, the drape in the material will
facilitate adhesion about the edges of the earpiece or mouthpiece.
Because the adhesive pattern is uniform, when separating the first
cover (mounted to the earpiece or mouthpiece) from the remaining
stack of covers, a circular motion, rather than a rocking motion,
is used to achieve a peel. This may be easily accomplished if the
stack is hand held. Alternatively, the circular peel may be
achieved by a resilient sponge, or moldable fluid reservoir at the
base of the stack of covers. Where the single sheet covers are
stacked and packaged, it is possible to achieve, one hand
deployment of the cover to the earpiece and mouthpiece by providing
means to attach the package to a nearby surface. Much emphasis is
given to the packaging and deployment of the covers, as aseptic,
one-handed, deployment is vastly preferred.
A fuller cover is provided by the hat-like embodiments of the
covers of the present invention. These covers use a larger template
and adaptable retaining means, to create a bonnet or hat-like
cover. In one hat-like design, circular or square templates of
barrier material are provided with elastic retaining means attached
to at least about half the perimeter of the template. When using
this design, the barrier material requires considerable drape so
that the elastic retaining means is able to retain the cover on the
earpiece or mouthpiece. In another hat-like design, the fuller
cover is constructed of a template of barrier material, pleated,
and provided with flexible, resilient portions, along the outer
pleat at both sides of the template, to form a stick-like shape. At
either end of the stick, the pleats and the flexible, resilient
portions are firmly secured, as with a staple, plastic or
otherwise. Alternatively, the ends may be secured by heat welding.
When the two ends of the stick are pressed toward each other the
flexible resilient portion flexes to expand the pleats. In this
condition the cover may be disposed about the end of the earpiece
or mouthpiece. When the pressure on the ends of the stick is
released, the flexible resilient portions straighten, closing, and
securing the cover by tension, on the earpiece or mouthpiece.
Further securement may be achieved by a nonstick coating, such as a
series or pattern of rubber dots, on the inside surface of the
resilient portions.
Another fuller, hat-like cover is achieved with a circle of pleats,
creating a cover, which looks much like a chef's hat, or inverted
paper cup. This pleated cover, however, does not have a hat brim or
cup lip. The pleated cover is retained on the earpiece and
mouthpiece by a twisting motion of the hand, which individually
shapes the cover to the earpiece or mouthpiece. This requires that
the material of the template and its pleats be easily moldable and
not resilient. The twisting action creates a line of retaining
means comprising newly-angled pleats. A brim or lid would work
against the formation of such retaining means. These covers are
easily stackable and designed for easy and safe disposal.
Another embodiment of the present invention is the complete
sanitary cover. This cover is recommended for hospitals and other
medical facilities, and is preferably sterilized. This complete
sanitary cover has a handle portion for making a handle grip, and a
wrap portion for deployment along the handle, over the earpiece,
and down across the mouth piece. The wrap portion is fastened to
the phone by an adhesive tab at the end of the wrap portion. The
handle portion and wrap may be made of two templates of different
materials, the wrap joined at right angles to the handle portion.
Alternatively the same material made be used for both templates,
with stiffening provided in the handle portion. The present
invention offers an inexpensive complete cover that can be deployed
with one hand, without ever directly touching the telephone.
By using our specially designed, easy-to-store and-apply, sanitary
phone covers, the user helps prevent the passing of germs from
telephone handsets, public and private, to the users mouth ears,
nose and eyes. In addition, perhaps serendipitously, the covers of
the present invention filter out background noise, making the
telephone conversation clearer, to both the speaker and the
listener. Also, there is no degradation of the voice transmission
when using the covers of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hat-like cover of the present
invention, about to be placed over, the mouth piece of a telephone
handset.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cover of FIG. 1, secured about
the mouth piece of the headset.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the hat-like
cover of the present invention, shown just prior to being placed
over the mouth piece of a telephone earpiece and mouthpiece.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cover of FIG. 3, secured about
the mouthpiece.
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a method of manufacture of another
hat-like embodiment of the cover of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cover formed in FIG. 5 before
placement on the earpiece or mouthpiece of a telephone.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cover of FIG. 6, with the ends
pre-tensioned for placement over an earpiece or mouthpiece.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a sheet type embodiment of the
cover of the present invention, stacked, and ready for placement on
the earpiece and/or mouthpiece.
FIG. 9 is a side view of the stack of covers of FIG. 8, with the
top cover attached to the earpiece.
FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the complete sanitary cover
embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 11a-11c, are top plan views of the cover of FIG. 10,
illustrating a sequence of folding the cover.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the deployment of the
cover of FIGS. 10 and 11.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the cover of FIGS. 10-12 showing
the next step of deployment, the handle being placed about the
handle of a telephone earpiece and mouthpiece.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the cover of FIGS. 10-13, with the
handle about the earpiece and mouthpiece handle, illustrating the
placement and securement of the wrap portion of the cover.
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
sheet-type cover of the present invention, stacked, in a
container.
FIG. 16 is a cross-section of the stack and bottom of the
container, taken along lines 16--16 of FIG. 15, having means for
mounting the container on an available surface before deploying the
cover, to facilitate one hand deployment of the cover.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 illustrates the first of the hat-like covers of the present
invention. The covers of the present invention are intended for use
with a telephone earpiece and/or mouthpiece, substantially as shown
in FIG. 1. The handset, A, comprises a handle, B, having two ends,
and an earpiece, C, and mouth piece, D, at the two ends of the
handle. The phone may also have a cord, E, connecting it to
receiver, or mounting hook. The cover, shown generally at 10, Is
manufactured from a sheet of flexible, bacteria proof material, 12,
which is preferably a non-woven material, having good drape. In its
most preferred construction, the cover comprises a circular
template, 14, about 5 inches in diameter is provided with a
retaining means, 16, comprising a rubber or elastic band, 18, sewn
to the template about its circumference. A circular template is not
requires however, as a rectangular template with parallel elastic
bands attached along opposed sides will also produce a suitable
over, which, though it may not look like a hat, will look similar
to the hat-like over once it is disposed on the end of a
handset.
As used throughout this specification, "template" is used to
describe a piece of material, in sheet form, of a shape, and having
the properties, to be made into a cover by further manufacturing
steps. For instance, the template must be supplied with retaining
means to hold it to the phone. The phrase "universal template" is
used to emphasize that any shape template, from circular to
rectangular, may be used in covers for earpieces and/or headpieces
of phones which may circular, rectangular, or any shape in
between.
As shown in FIG. 2, the retaining means maintains the cover about
the mouth piece of the handset. In alternative constructions, the
rubber band may be glued to the template, or encased in a hem about
the circumference of the circular template.
It is preferred that these covers be inside-out when packaged for
use, so that the covers may be easily picked up with the
fingertips, as shown in FIG 1. Subsequently the cover may be
positioned atop the e.g., mouth piece, and flipped rightside-out
about the mouth piece of the handset as shown in FIG. 2.
This cover may be adapted for use on a wide variety of earpiece and
mouthpiece structures. For instance, a circular template cover
could be place on a square mouth piece, as the retaining means
easily adapts to any shape mouth piece. In addition, with the
elastic retaining means, a rectangular template of material may be
used to create covers for round and square phones. To make
rectangular covers with elastic retaining means, a high speed,
continuous manufacturing process could attach elastic bands along
the edges of a continuous strip of material of, e.g., 5 inch width.
Following attachment of the elastic, the elastic/material composite
strip could be separated into covers of up to about 5 inches in
length. If the elastic bands are attached in symmetric sinuous
lines, and the material trimmed to the lines, the covers would
appear almost circular.
The fibrous material used must permit sound transmission, but
eliminate contact with the mouth piece. The covers made therefrom
will be lightweight, and both easy and inexpensive to manufacture.
In addition, they will be compact and preferably, manufactured of
biodegradable sheet material.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,593,382 illustrates a sanitary telephone cover that
incorporates an elastic band. The band is used to retain the cover
on the phone, however, the cover is shaped and rigid, and will fit
only round mouth pieces of a particular dimension. Larger round
mouth pieces, and other shaped mouth pieces, e.g., square mouth
pieces, cannot be rendered sanitary with the covers of U.S. Pat.
No. 2,593,382.
FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate another hat-like cover according to the
present invention. In the particular embodiment shown, the cover,
30, is pleated into a frusto-circular structure with a flat top,
32, and sloping sides, 34, created by the pleats, 36. In the
hat-like embodiment pictured, the top preferably has a diameter of
2.25 inches, and the height of the cover is 1.25 inches. The cover
is made of a compliant material stiff enough to retain a pleat, but
with little resilience. As shown in FIG. 3, the frusto-circular
shape is achieved with a circular template, 38. However, it is not
required that the template be circular. A rectangular may also be
pleated to a frusto-circular shape, albeit with and uneven base.
Because the sides are sloped, a cover made from a round or square
template may be fitted on a round or square mouth piece (or
earpiece). FIG. 3 illustrates how the cover is deployed on and
secured about the mouth piece. As indicated by the arrows, the
cover is placed over the mouth piece, and then rotated. If pressure
is applied about the base of the frustrum during the rotary motion,
a line of crimped re-pleats, 40, in FIG. 4, form over the backside,
or region of decreased diameter, retaining the cover on the mouth
piece.
The material used to form the cover of FIGS. 3 and 4 is a fluid
impervious and bacteria proof material. It may be possible to form
the cover of a paper like material that will re-pleat, but a waxed
or plasticized material may be preferred in the sides, as it is
especially easy to pleat and re-pleat. Under no circumstances can
apertures be formed in the top of this cover to improve sound
transmission. Apertures not only break the bacterial barrier, it is
difficult to make apertures small enough to contain the mites found
in many phones. Adhesive may be added to the bottom surface of the
cover top, to retain the top against the contours of the mouth
piece, to assist in retaining the cover on the mouth piece both
prior to and after re-pleating.
U.S. Pat. No. 4, 652,163 discloses a telephone mouth piece cover
pleated to form a frusto-circular cover. The pleated skirt as shown
cut-out to accommodate the handle. The pleats of the cover of the
reference are not re-pleatable, as they are are reinforced with
ribs. As claimed in the reference, the skirt portion is 23
millimeters (less than one-half inch) in height. In the description
of the invention of the reference, the material of the cover is
described as paperboard at least 6 mils thick to provide the
rigidity required for stiff attachment to the mouth piece. Though
the patent states that the flare of the skirt accommodates varying
sizes of mouth pieces, it is clear from the complete description of
the patent that the range of sized accommodated is quite small
compared to the cover of the present invention, and that varying
shapes are not accommodated. Considerable effort goes into
manufacturing the covers of the issued patent, with the internal
ribs. The cover of the present invention is much easier to
manufacture. In addition, the retaining means of the cover of the
present invention, the repleats, are of sufficient strength to
retain the cover on the earpiece of a phone. Hence the retaining
means adapts the cover for use on many different size and shape
phones, and may be used on the earpiece as well as the mouth
piece.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,607,862 discloses a telephone mouth piece cover
with resilient reinforcing bead means which give elastic quality to
the cover to hold it in frictional engagement on the phone. However
the dome-like body of the cover is not gathered by the bead, and
the bead prevents pleating, hence the covers are limited to the
original dome shape and not adaptable to many sizes and shapes of
phones. Another telephone cover is depicted in U.S. Design patent
Ser. No. 380,477. The cover is a preformed cap-like shape, limiting
is range of adaptability. In addition, it has perforations;
unacceptable in a good cover. Lastly, the cover is allegedly
secured to the phone solely by adhesive provided under the flat top
of the cover. Such an arrangement can provide only questionable
securement, as the top of the mouth piece or earpiece may well not
be flat, limiting the amount of contact of the adhesive with the
phone.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,593,382 and 3,169,171 illustrate further telephone
covers utilizing pleats of crimping for enhanced fit, but always
with stiff rib members that limit the use of the covers to a
particular size range of round mouth pieces, and in the case of the
latter patent, earpieces.
FIGS. 5-7 illustrate another hat-like embodiment of the present
invention, in a "stick-like" cover which pops open for use. The
construction of this cover is perhaps best understood in relation
to its manufacture, represented schematically in FIG. 5. Continuous
strips 44 and 46 are joined to the edges of a continuous layer, 48,
of porous, bacteria proof non-woven fabric, by e.g. adhesive or
heat sealing. Strips 44 and 46 constructed of a flexible, resilient
material such as cardboard or plastic, such as polystyrene. After
the strips are joined to the fabric layer, the strip/fabric layer
composite is then folded a number of times, e.g. 9 folds, 50, and
secured at the ends, 52 by appropriate means, 54, such at staples,
stitches, adhesive or heat sealing. As shown in FIG. 6, the covers,
56, are separated from one another. If desired, the leading end 52'
of the cover in production may be secured, as at 54' prior to
separating the finished cover from the covers in production.
The cover as originally formed looks kind of like a stick, and
needs to be opened to be disposed on a mouth piece of a telephone
earpiece or mouthpiece. As seen in FIG. 7, the ends of the cover,
when pre-tensioned toward each other "pop open" the cover for
disposition on the earpiece or mouthpiece. For added gripping to
the earpiece or mouthpiece, the inside surface, 58, of the strips
may have a non-slip coating, 60, of e.g. silicon or rubber. This
cover has a universal design, and can be easily used with earpiece
and mouthpieces of varying sizes and shapes. An optimum cover may
be constructed with a fabric layer about 5-6 inches wide, and
strips about 0.4 inches wide and about 0.03 inches thick, cutting
the composite to a length of about 4.3 inches. Preferably the cover
is has an odd number of folds. It is essential that tensioning of
the ends does not result in a simple flexing of the "stick-like"
cover into a C, but actually opens the cover. Therefore, it is
preferred that the strips may have a slight, resilient arch, to
partially open the covers, or a pre-folded transverse center kink
to assist opening the cover to a hat-like shape with a brim formed
by the strips.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,304,379 disclose a cover with side strips. The
cover is not pleated, though it is formed of creped paper, or other
elastically extensible material. This is not equivalent to the
pleats, as the covers of the present invention pop-open, and no
cross directional force need be applied to extend the cover
material for fit or placement on the telephone. The patented cover
also has a rather complicated manufacturing step of making cutouts
in the fabric layer. This yields a cover, literally, with holes in
it. In addition, the cover requires substantial packaging to
preserve the delicate crepe paper hood. Lastly, this cover even
lacks the narrow profile to fit it (and others) conveniently in a
pocket or handbag.
These pop-open covers are preferably individually wrapped to
maintain asepsis. The covers with elastic retaining means may be
turned inside-out and stacked in a multi-pack. Similarly, the cover
with re-pleated retaining means may be nested in a multi-pack.
However, all of the hat-like covers allow the user to place the
cover on the phone, and remove the cover from the phone, with
little danger of their hands contacting the phone.
FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate one of the single sheet embodiments of the
cover of the present invention. As illustrated, the cover, 80, has
a square template, or shape, however there is no limitation to
shapes in which it may be produced. The cover, 80, has a band of
adhesive material., 84, along an edge. Like covers may be provided
in a stack, 82, and, if desired, packaged with the adhesive band
facing up. The covers are made of paper or non-woven fabric, as
sound transmission through: the cover is not as important with the
single sheet covers, as they do not encase the phone. To dispose
the cover on the phone, the upper edge, 88, of the working surface,
86, of the earpiece, C, is pressed against the adhesive, 84, to
fasten the cover to the earpiece. When so fastened, the cover
extends across the working surface of the earpiece. It is desirable
that the cover be easily releasable from the earpiece after use,
hence the adhesive should have a release feature. Pressure
sensitive adhesives are particularly suitable for use n this
cover.
When the covers are stacked, it is important that the edges with
the adhesive bands are not aligned. In a preferred stacks the
adhesive edges are alternated, at opposite sides of the stacked
square covers, as shown in FIG. 9. As the adhesive strength of the
adhesive fastening to the earpiece, usually referred to as the
tack, is generally greater than the peel adhesion, the top cover,
80a, may be easily peeled from the second cover, 80b, in the stack.
However, if very strong adherence to the phone is desired, it may
be advantageous to include a release surface on the bottom surface
of the cover, 80a, to meet the adhesive band of cover, 80b.
Placing the adhesive bands at alternating sides of the stack of
covers makes it easy to mount covers at the top edge of the
earpiece, and the bottom edge of the mouth piece. As with the
previous covers the cover 80 is, preferably, made of a bacteria
proof material such as a non-woven fabric. It is also required,
that the material has sufficient stiffness to extend across the
working surface of the mouthpiece/earpiece. This is necessary to
prevent folding of the template, and exposing the mouth
piece/earpiece. The adhesive and release materials may be used to
stiffen the material, however, it is preferred that adhesive does
not extend over the entire area of the cover to facilitate
separation of the cover from the stack
It should be noted that the covers might be round or square, or any
shape. A round cover may be used with an earpiece and mouthpiece
having a square end, if the cover is slightly oversized for average
earpiece and mouthpiece with circular ends. Thus the circular
covers are preferably made just slightly larger than the average
earpiece/mouth piece. It is also preferred that the square covers
be made slightly larger than needed for a square earpiece/mouth
piece. When the shapes of the earpiece and/or mouthpieces and
covers are not matched, the region of adhesive contact will
probably be smaller than if they were matched, however, if the
adhesive has sufficient tack, the covers can be used with most all
earpiece and mouthpieces. It should be noted that phone booth
headsets currently have round earpieces, and if desired, the covers
could be rounded. in this instance, the adhesive band would extend
partially about the circumference, and might be color-coded so that
the user could easily fasten the top cover to the phone. If the
stack, 82, has an adhesive undersurface, 90, the user may attach
covers to the earpiece and mouthpiece quickly, with just one
hand.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,063 discloses a multi-layer cover, constructed
of a layer of soft fabric, and a layer of water impermeable
material. The covers of the present invention have only one layer.
In addition, the patented cover has an additional stiffening layer
created by the means for bonding the first and second layers. As
shown, the cover has another full layer, a fourth layer, of
adhesive for fastening the cover to the phone. These covers contain
far too much material, contributing too much stiffness and
expense.
FIGS. 10-14 illustrate an embodiment of the complete sanitary cover
of the present invention. This cover, 100 is a composite of a
handle portion, 102, and a wrap portion 104. While the wrap portion
is drapeable, the handle portion is preferably formed of a stiffer
material. The wrap portion is preferably a porous bacterial barrier
fabric. It may be attached to the handle portion in region of
attachment, 106, by adhesive, heat sealing, or other inexpensive,
reliable bonding means. The wrap portion may be fastened to the
upper surface or the underside of the handle. The cover, shown
generally at 100, includes a tab, 108, with adhesive means, 110,
which may be provided with a cover sheet (not shown). The wrap
portion, 104, is of considerable length, to extend around the top
of the earpiece and mouthpiece, across the earpiece and mouth piece
as shown in FIG. 14.
For ease of use, the covers are folded in a precise manner so that
they may be easily, and safely, used, and deployed in aseptic
condition on the earpiece and mouthpiece. Folding of the wrap
portion is achieved by an equal number of forward and reverse
folds, so that the tab remains outside the handle. By conventional
definition, a forward fold brings together the right sides or top
surface, and reverse folds bring together the wrong sides or bottom
surface. FIG. 10 is a plan view of the bottom, surface of the
handle and wrap portion. As shown, the reverse sold along line 112
brings bottom surface of panel 114 atop the bottom surface of the
handle portion, and a forward fold along line 116 brings the tab
back to the left of the handle. The last pair of reverse and
forward folds, 118 and 120, respectively, must be placed such that
the last panel has a length, L1 which is greater than the length,
L2 of the next to last panel.
FIG. 11c depicts the composite cover after the wrap portion has
been completely folded. The folded wrap portion covers the
undersurface of the handle portion except for panels 122 and 124.
The folded composite as shown in 11c is then folded, in a forward
fold along line 126. Finally, reverse folds are made along lines
128 and 130, revealing the topside of handle panels 122 and 124. In
this final-folded form, as shown in FIG. 11c, the cover may be
packaged, and easily deployed on the earpiece and mouthpiece, to
provide an aseptic cover.
On unwrapping the package, preferably a foil wrap (not shown), the
folded cover may be grasped along its top edges, near fold lines
128 and 130, and placed against the handle of the handset. The top
edges must be held together, as the resilience of the handle
materials together with the bulk of the folded wrap portion urge
the two top edges apart. Once the composite is placed on the handle
of the handset, the finger grip may be released, allowing the top
edges to separate, as shown in FIG. 12. One finger is used to hold
the region of the cover near line 126 against the handset. The
remaining fingers may be used to urge the top edges down and about
the edges of the handle of the handset, as seen in FIG. 13. The
tab, 108, may then be grasped, i.e. by the fingers of the left
hand, and pulled in the direction of the arrow, to unfold the wrap
portion. The wrap portion may then be pulled about the top of the
handset and stuck to the bottom of the mouth piece, as shown in
FIG. 14. With this cover, the earpiece, mouth piece, and handle are
covered. This complete sanitary cover is independent of the shape
of the various parts of the earpiece and/or mouthpiece. As
designed, the cover avoids any cord attachment to the earpiece and
mouthpiece.
FIG. 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,377, and FIG. 2 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,
751,731 disclose earpiece and mouth piece covers connected by an
elongated member. This elongated 10 member does not protect the
palm of the hand from the handle of the earpiece and mouthpiece.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,962,555 and Design Pat. No. 214,322 disclose handle
covers deployed from the underside of the handle, requiring
contamination of one hand to lift the earpiece and mouthpiece and
expose the underside of the handle to receive the cover.
Another embodiment of the single sheet covers of the present
invention is shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. As shown, the covers, 140,
comprising template, or sheet, 142, of bacterial barrier material,
and radial adhesive pattern, 144. These covers may be sold in a
stack, 146. To deploy the covers on the handset, the earpiece or
mouth piece is pressed against the adhesive pattern, and the cover
is released from the stack as the handset is moved away from the
stack. Once attached to the earpiece or mouthpiece, release of the
top cover from the remaining stack may be aided by a rotary motion
of the earpiece or mouth piece as it is moved away from the stack.
The stack of covers may be provided with package 148, which at a
minimum comprises a bottom wall, 150, and more preferably with
sidewalls 152 and a lid, 154. The sidewalls may be provided with a
beveled edge, as at 156, which provides a friction-fit to the
lid
As shown in FIG. 16, the package may be provided with a attachment
means, 162, such as a magnet, or releasable adhesive panel, to
attach the package to an available surface, for one-handed
deployment of the cover to the earpiece and mouthpiece. If no
package is provided, the stack may carry a magnet or pressure
sensitive adhesive layer at the bottom of the stack to attach the
stack to an available surface for one-handed deployment of the
covers. To enhance the rotary peel of the top cover from the rest
of the stack, the; package, may be provided with an easily moldable
but resilient layer, 160, such as a fluid-type reservoir. As shown
in FIG. 15 the covers (and package parts) are square, however,
circular template covers may also be used. What is critical to
these covers is the radial pattern of adhesive, which will easily
attach to any shaped earpiece an/or mouth piece.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,703 disclose stacked sheet covers which require
separating sheets between each cover, increasing the cost of
materials and manufacture, while making it nearly impossible to
deploy covers on the earpiece and mouth piece using just one hand.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,640 discloses another sheet cover having a
separating layer, 16, to cover the adhesive. U.S. Pat. No.
4,570,038 discloses a "simplified structure" for a telephone cover,
requiring round or square shapes to fit round or square phones. In
addition, these simple covers, and the covers of U.S. Pat. No.
2,0507,375 disclose two piece sheets, with continuous non-patterned
adhesive.
To understand the extent of contamination of phones, random,
cultures were made from both the mouth piece and the earpiece of
telephones on New York City streets, in NY and Florida airports and
foreign airports in the Caribbean, and from telephones in hospitals
and hotel rooms. With one exception these cultures were all
positive. The cultures showed the following bacterial species:
Staphylococcus, bacillus, acinetobacter, tatumella, enterococus,
aerococcus, pseudomonas, citrobacter, and stenotrophomonas.
[Certain bacteria were not attempted to be cultured, due to the
difficulty in culturing. Mycobacterium, is one such example.]
Culture H7337009 Test Name Results CULTURE, Airport Phone, Dec. 7,
1999, 10:54 am ENVIRONMENTAL SOURCE STATUS FINAL ORGANISM 1 FEW
STAPHYLOCOCCUS EPIDERMIDIS ORGANISM 2 FEW STAPHYLOCOCCUS HOMINIS
SUBSPECIES HOMINIS SENSITIVITIES ORGANISM FEW STAPHYLOCOCCUS
EPIDERMIDIS SUBSPECIES HOMINIS AMPICILLIN S AMPICILLIN SULBACTAM S
CEPHALOTHIN S CIPROFLOXACIN S S = sensitive CLINDAMYCIN S
ERYTHROMYCIN S R = resistant GENTAMICIN S OXACILLIN S I =
Intermediate PENICILLIN S TETRACYCLINE I TRIMETHOPRIM & S
SULFAMETH SENSITIVITIES ORGANISM FEW STAPHYLOCOCCUS EPIDERMIDIS
AMPICILLIN S AMPICILLIN SULBACTAM S CEPHALOTHIN S CLINDAMYCIN S
ERYTHROMYCIN S GENTAMICINS S OXACILLIN S PENICILLIN S TETRACYCLINE
I TRIMETHOPRIM & S SULFAMETH Culture H7351106 Test Name Results
CULTURE, Airport Phone, Dec. 23, 1999, 3:53 pm ENVIRONMENTAL SOURCE
STATUS FINAL ORGANISM 1 MODERATE STAPHYLOCOCCUS AURICULARIS
BETA-LACTAMASE PRODUCER SENSITIVITIES ORGANISM MODERATE
STAPHYLOCOCCUS AURICULARIS AMPICILLIN R AMPICILLIN SULBACTAM S
CEPHALOTHIN S CIPROFLOXACIN S CLINDAMYCIN S ERYTHROMYCIN R
GENTAMICIN S OXACILLIN S PENICILLIN R TETRACYCLINE S TRIMETHOPRIM
& S SULFAMETH Culture H7351133 Test Name Results CULTURE,
Airport Phone, Dec. 7, 1999, 10:59 am ENVIRONMENTAL SOURCE STATUS
FINAL ORGANISM 1 MANY STENOTROPHOMONAS (X.) MALTOPHILIA ORGANISM 2
MODERATE CITROBACTER FREUNDII SENSITIVITIES ORGANISM MANY
STENOTROPHOMONAS (X.) MALTOPHILIA AMOXICILLIN & I CLAVULANATE
AMPICILLIN R AMPICILLIN SULBACTAM R CARBENICILLIN R CEFOXITIN R
CEFTRIAXONE R CEFUROXIME R CEPHALOTHIN R CIPROFLOXACIN I GENTAMICIN
R TETRACYCLINE R TRIMETHOPRIM & S SULFAMETH Culture H7939187
Test Name Results CULTURE, Airport Phone, Dec. 07, 1999, 11:00 am
ENVIRONMENTAL SOURCE STATUS FINAL ORGANISM 1 FEW STAPHYLOCOCCUS
AURICULARIS SENSITIVITIES ORGANISM FEW STAPHYLOCOCCUS AURICULARIS
AMPICILLIN R AMPICILLIN SULBACTAM R CEPHALOTHIN R CIPROFLOXACIN S
CLINDAMYCIN S ERYTHROMYCIN S GENTAMICIN S OXACILLIN R PENICILLIN R
TETRACYCLINE S TRIMETHOPRIM & R SULFAMETH Culture H7938036 Test
Name Results CULTURE, Operating Room Recovery Room, ENVIRONMENTAL
Dec. 23, 1999, 3:58 pm SOURCE STATUS FINAL ORGANISM 1 RARE
STAPHYLOCOCCUS EPIDERMIDIS SENSITIVITIES ORGANISM RARE
STAPHYLOCOCCUS EPIDERMIDIS AMPICILLIN R AMPICILLIN SULBACTAM S
CEPHALOTHIN S CIPROFLOXACIN S CLINDAMYCIN S ERYTHROMYCIN S
GENTAMICIN S OXACILLIN S PENICILLIN R TETRACYCLINE S TRIMETHOPRIM
& S SULFAMETH Culture H7939178 Test Name Results CULTURE,
Intensive Care Unit Nursing Station, ENVIRONMENTAL Dec. 23, 1999,
3:55 pm SOURCE STATUS FINAL ORGANISM 1 FEW STAPHYLOCOCCUS
EPIDERMIDIS SENSITIVITIES ORGANISM FEW STAPHYLOCOCCUS EPIDERMIDIS
AMPICILLIN R AMPICILLIN SULBACTAM S CEPHALOTHIN S CIPROFLOXACIN S
CLINDAMYCIN S ERYTHROMYCIN S GENTAMICIN S OXACILLIN S PENICILLIN R
TETRACYCLINE S TRIMETHOPRIM & S SULFAMETH Culture H7939187 Test
Name Results CULTURE, IE Nursing Station, Dec. 23, 1999,
ENVIRONMENTAL 3:56 pm SOURCE STATUS FINAL ORGANISM 1 FEW
STAPHYLOCOCCUS EPIDERMIDIS SENSITIVITIES ORGANISM FEW
STAPHYLOCOCCUS EPIDERMIDIS AMPICILLIN R AMPICILLIN SULBACTAM S
CEPHALOTHIN S CIPROFLOXACIN S CLINDAMYCIN S ERYTHROMYCIN S
GENTAMICIN S OXACILLIIN S PENICILLIN R TETRACYCLINE S TRIMETHOPRIM
& S SULFAMETH Culture H7939196 Test Name Results CULTURE, Hall
Phone, Dec. 23, 1999, 3:53 pm ENVIRONMENTAL SOURCE STATUS FINAL
ORGANISM 1 FEW ENTEROCOCCUS FAECALIS ORGANISM 2 RARE STAPHYLOCOCCUS
AURICULARIS SENSITIVITIES ORGANISM RARE STAPHYLOCOCCUS AURICULARIS
AMPICILLIN R AMPICILLIN SULBACTAM R CEPHALOTHIN R CIPROFLOXACIN R
CLINDAMYCIN R ERYTHROMYCIN R GENTAMICIN R OXACILLIN R PENICILLIN R
TETRACYCLINE R TRIMETHOPRIM & S SULFAMETH SENSITIVITIES
ORGANISM FEW ENTEROCOCCUS FAECALIS AMPICILLIN S CIPROFLOXACIN S
ERYTHROMYCIN I PENICILLIN S TETRACYCLINE R Culture H7939202 Test
Name Results CULTURE, Hall Phone, Dec. 23, 1999, 3:53 pm
ENVIRONMENTAL SOURCE STATUS FINAL ORGANISM 1 FEW STAPHYLOCOCCUS
EPIDERMIDIS SENSITIVITIES ORGANISM FEW STAPHYLOCOCCUS EPIDERMIDIS
AMPICILLIN R AMPICILLIN SULBACTAM S CEPHALOTHIN S CIPROFLOXACIN S
CLINDAMYCIN S ERYTHROMYCIN S GENTAMICIN S OXACILLIN S PENICILLIN R
TETRACYCLINE S TRIMETHOPRIM & S SULFAMETH
While these examples illustrate the risk in very particular
settings, efforts to counter the more general risk extend to
additional infectious agents.
* * * * *